She brought up the idea in February 2012 as one of her first acts as a councilwoman, but it was voted down 4-2 along party lines, with Democrats, including then-Supervisor Jon Kaiman, defeating the measure.

Democrats have since dropped their opposition, with Bosworth promoting the move as a way to make government "open and transparent." De Giorgio said she was gratified that the measure finally passed.

"I think it's very important for the public to participate in government," she said. "You can't always make it to town hall at 7:30 at night for the meeting."

All Suffolk County towns except Babylon webcast or broadcast their meetings, as does Long Beach and several villages across the Island.

Lynbrook Village Clerk John Giordano said airing village meetings on television has buoyed public participation.

Giordano said a resident once appeared at a late-night village board meeting in plaid pajamas and slippers -- he was so incensed over something he heard over the live broadcast that he hopped in the car without changing clothes.

Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group, said the move to webcast the meetings made "perfect sense."

"The taxpayers are paying for it [the meeting], so they should at least be able to see what's going on," he said.

It also helps to increase accountability, Horner said.

"Public officials behave differently in the open than behind closed doors," he said. "This opens the electronic door."